Hinge for sewed-in bag frames



Jan. 28, 1930. F. T. STUART HINGE FOR SEWED INVQ'BAG FRAMES Filed July 10,- 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet NTOR v a? BY ATTORNEYfi 'Jan. 28, 1930. F. T. STUART HINGE FOR SEWED IN BAG FRAMES Filed July 10. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet INVEN 0R" 4 ATTORNEY);

Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UN- TED a, v a..." M--.

FRANK 'r. STUART, OF nartnwooanaw massif, Ass st-on TO R. finii vilnfi HARDWARE 00., A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY HINGE roe 'siiiwnn m BAG reams u Application filed my 10,

This invention relates to hinged frames for traveling bags to which the bag-body may be attached by continuous stitching.

The invention has for its principal object to provide in combination with bag-frame sections for sewed-inb-ags, a novel construction and arrangement of hinge connection for so joining the frame sections that the bag body may be sewn to the entire frame structure by an uninterrupted or continuous line of stitchin'g. f v

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel construction of hinge connection for bag-frame sections, which is adapted to maintain the frame sections in operative alignment, and reenforced against accidental distortion.

Other objects of this invention, not at this 7 time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

The invention. is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a bag-frame provided with the novel construction of hinge connections made according to this invention, the bag-frame being shown in closed condition; Figure 2 is a plan view with the bagframe shown in open condition; Figure 3 is an inside end elevation of the novel hinge structure, drawnon an enlarged scale, in the position assumed when the frame sections are closed; Figure 4 is a similarview with the cooperating ends of the hinge plates shown in vertical section; Figure 5 is a View similar to that of Figure 4, but with the hinge in the position assumed when the frame sections are open; Figure 6 is a'fragmentary section. on an enlarged scale, taken on line 6-6 in Figure 2, but showing additionally the frame covering leather and a portion of the bagbody as operatively assembled with the bagframe; Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the open frame sections, looking toward the under exterior side thereof, i. e. with the frame inverted, illustrating the manner in which the stitching which fastens the bag body to the frame may be carried continuously past the hinge connection, and Figure 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of the open frame illus- 1926 'Serial no. 1213-3 1 7.

tratin g the continuous stitching path extending entirely around the same.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the reference characters 10 and 11 respectively indicate the outer and inner frame=sections, with which are respectively connected by brackets 12 and 13, their respective side-frame sections 14 and 15, all so arranged that the side-frame sections are spaced from the outer and inner frame sections so as to provide an intervening sewing space 16 Secured to opp'osingends of the respective side-frame sections 14 and 15 to pivotally interconnect the same together are the novel hinge connections made according to and embo'dying the principles of the present invention. Each such hinge connection comprises a pair of hinge plates 17 and 18; one hinge plate, as 17, being secured to an end of the side-frame section 14*, and the other hinge plate, as '18-, being secured to the'opposing end of the side frame section 15. The hinge plate 17 is provided at its free end with an angularly bent laterally oblique portion 19 terminating at its free end in a center perforate knuckle 20; in like manner, said hinge plate 18 isalso provided at its free end with an angularly bent laterally oblique portion 21, which terminates at its free end a bi- "furcated perforate knuckle 22, adapted to straddle and be aligned with said center perforate knuckle 20 so that "a hinge pintle 2 3 may be engaged through the thus aligned knuckles to pivotally connect the hinge plates in operative relation one to the other; As will be clearly evident from an inspection of Figures 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8 more especially, the angularly bent laterally oblique portions 19 and 21 serve to inwardly ofi-set the hinge knuckles and pintle relative to theintervening sewing space 1'5 between the respective outer and inner frame sections and their respective side-frame sections, thus leaving said intervening space 16, where the same passes the hinge connections, "entirely free. and un obstructed by any projecting portion or portionsof 'said hing'e connections, so that when the bag body is sewn to the bag-frame, the work can be done by machine sewing or stitching around the entire frame and uninterruptedly past the points of pivotal connection of the frame sections one with another (as in dicated by the dotted lines in Figure 8) This arrangement is of decided advantage when manufacturing the bag, since it not only saves time, but also produces a better and stronger attachment of the bagbody to the frame, with less likelihood of rips, especially at points adjacent to the bag-frame hinges, at which points the strains upon the sewn bag-body are usually greater than elsewhere around the frame. Another advantage of the novel hinge connections, whereby a continuous or uninterrupted sewing space 16 is provided around the entire extent of the whole bag-frame, is thatthe sewing or stitching may be started at any desired point relative to the whole bag-frame, and then continuously carried around the frame back to any such selected starting point.

In practice, the frame sections are usually provided with a covering of leather, as indicated at 24 in Figures 6 and 7, this covering extending around the frame sections and their side members and across the intervening sewing space 16, thus not only concealing the metallic frame, but providing a foundation coincident with the sewing space 16, through which the stitching 25 which at taches the bag-body 26 may be anchored.

Each hinge connection is provided with a means operative to yieldably hold the frame sections in extended open position to conveniently give access to the interior of the bag when the same is in opened condition. This means comprises, preferably in integral connection with the center knuckle 20 of the hinge plate 17, a cam projection 27 terminating in an angular stop face 28, and cooperating with said cam projection is a leaf-spring 29, which is suitably fixed relative to the opposite hinge plate 18, with its free resilient end portion 30 overlying the angularly bent laterally oblique portion 21 of the latter, and its extremity engaged with said cam projection 27. In operation, when the respective frame sections are swung apart, the turning of the center knuckle 20 causes the cam projection 27 to ride under and tensionally lift the resilient end portion 30 of said leafspring 29 until, upon attainment of full opening of the frame sections in relation one to the other, said resilient end portion drops upon and tensionally engages the stop-face 28 at the end of said cam projection, all as shown more especially in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. The pressure of said leaf-spring thus exerted upon the stop-face 28 tends to 'yieldably restrain the frame sections from movement to closed position, as will be evident.

Another advantage of the novel construetion of hinge connections above described, lies in the fact that the angularly bent laterally oblique portions thereof not only inwardly off-set the interengaged knuckle connections out of the sewing path, but, furthermore, tend to stiffen the whole hinge connection against play, accidental distortion or displacement, and consequently thereby stiffens the frame members against possible acci dental displacement from normal aligned cooperative relation one with the other.

Having thus described my present invention, I claim 1. In a bag-frame, outer and inner frame sections adapted to telescope together, each having side-frame sections connected therewith so as to provide an intervening sewing space, hinge connections between the opposed terminal portions of said side-frames, each hinge connection comprising hinge plates respectively secured to opposite side-frames. transverse knuckle elements mutually aligned together, a pintle rivet pivotally connecting said knuckle elements, and inwardly e.;tending laterally oblique portions downwardly inclined from the planes of said side-frame sections and interconnecting said knuckle elements and said hinge plates so as to offset the former and their pintle rivets inwardly out of the line of said sewing space when said frame members are in opened horizontal extension.

2. In a bag-frame, outer and inner frame sections adapted to telescope together. each having side-frame sections connected therewith so as to provide an intervening sewing space, hinge connections between the opposed terminal portions of said side-frames. each hinge connection comprising hinge plates respectively secured to opposite sideframes, knuckle elements mutually aligned and pivotally connected together, laterally oblique portions intermediate said knuckle elements and said hinge plates adapted to oll' set the former out of the line of said sewing space, a knuckle element of one hinge plate having an external cam portion terminating in an angular stop face, and a leaf-spring secured in connection with the other hinge plate and having its resilient free end disposed for cooperation with said cam portion and angular stop face to hold the hinge in open condition.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of July, 1926.

FRANK T. STUART. 

